Mail-bag-delivery apparatus.



G. YURKOVIQH & F. FARENCHAK.

MAIL BAG DELIVERY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-25,1912.

1,174,462. Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

a SHEETS-SHEET I.

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G. YURKOVICH & F. FARENCHAK.

MAIL BAG DELIVERY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25. 1912.

1,174,462. A Patented Mar. 7,1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES z/vl lg'zvroxg w. W W gww a All 02712 T] E COLUM O ASHINGTON D c G. YURKOVICH & F. FARENCHAK.

MAIL'BAG DELIVERY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-25, 1912.

Patented Mar.

3 SHEETS-SHEET}.

A Q AN Q lll ilfllli V I W] T NESSES A9144.

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I THE COLUMBIA PLANQGRAPH :0.. WASHINGTON, D; C.

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GEORGE YURKOVIGH AND BEAN K FARENCHAK, OF HOMER CITY, PENNSYLVANIA. V

MAIL-BAG-DELIVERY APPARATUS.

tus for delivering mail bags to and from moving vehicles, such as mail cars, by means of suitable standards, projections, and appertaining devices, so disposed as to cooperate for the successful transferring of the mail bag from a stationary point to a movable point, vice versa, or for'the-transfen' ring of bags from both points concurrently.

lhe principal objects of our. invention are to provide apparatus of the character described which is susceptible of use without danger of injuring the contents of the mail bag or bags transferred; to provide apparatus that may be adapted for use along ways where the vehicles move in both directions longitudinally thereof; to provide -means whereby elements of the apparatus may be adjusted to a fineness whereby the bags are delivered in the most efficient manner; to provide means whereby the impact resulting, from the transferring of bags is absorbed by resilient means; and, provide means whereby the bags and appertaining devices may be held in operative relation to the projectors, for receiving the same, and can not be displaced by such forces as wind, or the momentum of the vehicle.

Other objects of our invention will appear in the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

and in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a car body, and stationary platform supporting an apparatus constructed accordin Fig. 2 is a plan view 0' such apparatus, the said car body being shown in horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a carrying device. Fig. 4: is a perspective view of a collecting device. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of mechanism for retaining the bag carrying element in Specification ofLetters Patent.

substantially a vertical plane. Fig. 6 is a detail view, partly in section and partly in elevation of the device disclosed in Fig. 3. .Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a'portion of asupporting device stationarily mounted. Fig. 8 is a view in perspective,a detail of the device disclosed in Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a detail view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a receiving device to be mounted stationary. Fig. 10 .is an enlarged'detail view in central longitudinal section, of parts disclosed in Fig. 9.

'In the drawings, where'similar characters refer to similar parts, A designates a'vehicle, such as a mail car, orrolling stock of a railroad, including a door 11,, preferably pivoted as at 12, to swing inwardly. This door is adaptedto form a part of the lateral wall of the car, and is preferably provided with two elongated slots 13 and '14: extend ing longitudinally of the vehicle, the purpose of which will be subsequently set, forth.

The vehicleA carries laterally,.a carrying Patented Mar. '3, 1916.

Application filed November 25, 1912. Serial No. 733,328;

device, designated generally by B, more" specifically shown in Figs. 3 and 6 of the drawings, this device being adapted to carry the bag or bags to be deliveredfrom the vehicle to a stationary point. The device B preferably comprises aibracket 15 extending laterally of the car; anarm 16, preferably pivoted to said bracket, as at 17, so that it may be swung to extend longitudinally of thevehicle at eitherside of bracket 15; and, a holding device designated generally by 18. The arm 16 may be held rigid with bracket 15, as by stay 19 pivoted to one element and entering an aperture 20 in the other element. With the end in view of permitting adjustment -of device B longi and, an articulated jaw'27, pivoted to stemcesses 29. The arm 16 carries a sle vs 32 in which stem 26 is movable, as well as the pivoted portions of the jaws "2 and The pivoted portions of these latter elements are normally retained within said sleeve by resilient means, such as is'shoWn in Fig. 10 of the drawings, and will be subsequently described, so that the member 30 can not be removed from the jaws until the pivots of the latter are -drawn e eriorly of said sleeve, as clearly indicated by dotted lines in 6 of the drawings.

It is to be noted that arm 16 may be swung and retained to extend longitudinally of the vehicle at either side of bracket 15, as by lifting stay 19 and swinging the arm about its pivot. This is for the purpose of adapting the device B for successful use when moving in either of the two directions possible upon its way, and so that the device 18 is rearmost in the direction of travel.

In the example shown, two mechanisms designated generally by C, are provided for cooperation with device 18, although only one of such mechanisms need be provided if it is contemplated to move the vehicle in only one direction upon its Way. The mechanism C is adapted to normally hold the member 30 in substantially a vertical plane, regardless of its resistance with the air, or the resistance of the load it carries, against the air when the car is moved. Each mechanism (3 comprises an oscillatable arm 83, more specifically shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, carried by the vehicle, this arm being normally forced toward the device B by a spring 34 or similar element, having one end rigid with a bracket 35 for supporting the arm, and the other end movable with said arm. A lever 36 may extend through an aperture 37 in door 11, this lever being rigid with arm 33 so that the latter may be manually actuated from within the car when such is desired. One or more mail bags may be secured to element 30 and pen dently supported from device 13 as is obvious from the foregoing description and by reference to the drawings.

The vehicle A also carries a collecting device designated .generally by I), such as to receive an annulus or element, such as that designated by 30. This device preferably comprises a bracket 38 adjustable in slot 1% in substantially the same manner as is bracket 15, and extending eXter-iorly of the vehicle; an arm 39 pivoted *to said bracket as at 4:0; and, a hook' il 'of the well known type extending rearwar'd'ly from the free end of arm 39. The arm 39 may be held rigid at either side of bracket 38, to extend longitudinally of vehicle A, as by stay 42, carried by one of the elements and extending into an aperture 43 in the other. In operation, the free end of arm 39 is disposed foremost in the direction of travel of the vehicle.

The devices B and D hereinbefore specifically described are those capable of delivering and receiving, respectively, the mail bags from and at moving points.

Referring new to the devices designated by E and F, for receiving a delivery, respectively, the mail bags at and from a static-nary point, the same are preferably mounted upon a suitable platform or foundation 4A.

Vith reference, first, to device E, it preferably comprises a standard 45 having a longitudinal bore rigid with foundation at; an upright 46 having a cylindrical portion extending into the bore of said standard to be oscillatable; a presenting arm 17 pivoted to said upright and adapted to swing to extend longitudinally of the way of the vehicle, at either side of standard 45; and, a receiving arm 18 carried by arm 47 and disposed longitudinally of the way of the vehicle. The arm 48 is preferably carried by arm :7 through the intermediacy of a stem d9 movable in a sleeve 5'0 carried by said arm, a coil spring 51 being within said sleeve and having one end rigid with arm 47, by pin 52, and its other end rigid with stem 49 as by .pin 53, this spring being preferably received in :a hollow reduced extension 54: of arm 4-7, which is, in turn, received by a slot 55 in said stem 19. The means for retaining the jaws 24 and 27 of device 13 retracted, may be substantially as is disclosed in Fig; 10, which serves to retract stem 49. The upright 4'6 is oscillatably carried by standard 15 so that the receiving arm 48 and appertaining parts may be swung out of operative relation to the carrying device of the vehicle when no bag or bags are to be delivered from the latter. In 2 of the drawings, such position of the receiving arm 48 is indicated by dotted lines. The arm 48 carries two hooks 58, similar to hook 41-, which serves the purpose of preventing the element 30 from flying off the receiving arm after it is delivered thereto.

Referring now to device F, two of such are required if the apparatus is to be adapted for use along a way whereon vehicles move in both directions, these devices be ing disposed at both sides of the device E and suitably mounted on foundation 44. Each comprises -a standard 59 and a carrying arm 60, preferably formed to provide a recess 6-1 at its upper portion, this arm extending longitudinally of the vehicle way and spaced from the standard as by bracket 1,174,462 f I I 3 62. The arm 60 may be braced from bracket 62 by a stay 63. It is upon arm with the element 6d at both sides thereof.

The arm 66 may be mounted on a sleeve 67 oscillatably carried by bracket 65 and having its amplitude of oscillation limited by abutments 68 and 69, carried by sleeve 6'1 7 and bracket 65, respectively.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Assuming that the vehicle is moved in a direction indicated by an arrow in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and that mail bags are to be delivered from device Band received by device'D thereon. The arms of these devices are positioned as shown in the before mentioned figures of the drawings. The element 30 supporting the bag to be delivered from the vehicle is positioned to be held by device 18, and arm 33 is disposed to bear against said element 30 at its side rearmost in the direction of travel of the vehicle. The element 64: carrying the bag to be taken up by receiving device B is pendently supported on the arm 60 of device F disposed with the free end of said arm foremost in the direction of travel of'the vehicle. The bifurcated arm 66 extends over the member 65 so that it is not materially affected by wind forces.

As the vehicle moves as hereinbefore stated, the arm 39 is projected within annulus 64, while the arm 48 is projected into annulus 30, which arms receive the respective elements 64 and 30 by their abutting against rigid portions ofthe devices. The hooks on the receiving arms prevent such elements from becoming displaced, due to the impact with rigid members. It is to be noted that the jaws 24: and 27 must be drawn so that their pivots are outside of sleeve 32, before the member 30 is detached therefrom. Inasmuch as the said jaws move longitudinally against spring action,

the impact of the annulus 30 with the support of arm l8 is taken up to a considerable extent, by such spring. Likewise, the stem 49 yields to the impact, so that the contents of'the mail bag is not injured because of its being transferred from a moving point to a stationary point.

' When it is desired to collect the mail bag received by device D it is merely necessary to swing the door 11 inwardly, which carries with it such device D. Adjustment of the brackets of devices B and D may be easily accomplished from within the vehicle, and likewise, the adjustable arms of these devices may be swung and retained, as desired, according to the direction of movement of-the vehicle.

' Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope ofour invention but,

We claim: 1 1. In mail bag deliveryapparatus, the

combination with a vehicle, of a carrying device projecting laterally of said vehicle and adjustable longitudinally thereof, an annular-like element for pendently support mg mail matter to be detachably carried by said carrying device, and mechanism includmg an arm osclllatably carrled by said velncle and adapted .to engage with said element for retaining the same in substantially a vertical plane. I

2. In mail bag delivery apparatus, the combination with a vehicle, of a carrying device projecting laterally of said vehicle, an annular-like element for pendently supporting mail matter to be detachably carried by said carrying device, an oscillatable arm carried by said vehicle, yieldable means for retaining said arm in engagement with said element to position the latter in substantially a. vertical plane, and means extending within said vehicle for manually actuating said arm, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 3. In mail bag delivery apparatus, th

combination with a vehicle, of a carrying device for mail matter projecting laterally of said vehicle, an'annular-like element for pendently supporting mail'matter to be detachably carried by said carrying device, an

oscillatable arm carried by said vehicle,'and

yieldable means for normally retaining said arm in engagement with said element to position the latter in substantially a vertical plane.

4:. In ,mail bag delivery apparatus, the combination with a carrying arm and an annular-like member for supporting mail matter, of a sleeve rigid with said arm, a stem movable in said sleeve, two jawsv pivoted to said stem and having a way to grip the said annular-like element when together, and yieldable means for retracting said, stem to position the pivots of said jaws Within said sleeve, to hold said jaws together, but permitting them to separate when their pivots are drawn exteriorly of said sleeve, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In mail bag delivery apparatus, the combination with a carrying arm and an annular-like member for su porting mail matter, of a sleeve rigid withsaid arm, a stem movable in said sleeve, a main jaw pivoted to said stem, an articulated jaw pivoted to, said stem, means for retaining said second jaw rigid throughout its length, said jaws having a way to. grip the, said annular-like element when together, and yieldable means for retracting said stem to position the pivots of said jaws within said sleeve, to hold said jaws together, but permitting them to separate when their pivots are drawn exteriorly of said sleeve, substantially as and for'the purpose set forth.

6. In a mail bag delivery apparatus, the combination with a vehicle, of a carrying device including a bracket and an arm, said bracket being adjustable longitudinally of the, vehicle, said arm being pivoted to the bracket and projecting laterally of the vehicle, a sleeve rigid with said arm, a stem movable in said sleeve, two jaws pivoted to said stem and having a way to grip, an annular like element for association with said way for pendently supporting mail matter, and yielding means positioned in said arm for retracting said stem to position the pivots of said jaw within said sleeve to hold said jaw together but permitting ime ea them to separate when their pivots are drawn exteriorly of the sleeve.

7. In a mail bag delivery apparatus, the combination with a vehicle, of a carrying device including a bracket and an arm piv- Qtitlly associated with the bracket, a sleeve rigid with said arm, a stem movable in said sleeve, a main jaw pivoted to said stem, an articulated jaw pivoted to said stem means for retaining said second jaw rigid throughout its length, said jaws having a way for grlpping purposes, an annular like element for association with said way for pendently supporting mail matter from said arm, and yielding means positioned within said stem for retracting said stem to position the pivots of said jaws vwithin said sleeve to hold said jaw together but permitting them to separate when their pivots are drawn exteriorly of the sleeve. 7

GEORGE YURKOVICH. FRANK FARENCHAK. Witnesses B. B. MoCoNNAUoI-IEY, CLYDE W. SHAEFFER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, It). 0. 

